The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-12-21
FOREST POLICY OF JAPAN.
A Bnvnrian Invited to Direct
nration for ~ Timber Supply.

a Hawaiian Invited to Direct
nration for ~ Tinbc, Supply.
Not long ago, without Gny flourish Of
announcement or departure, q quiet,
scholarly gentleman in The vigUr of early
manhood passed through this city on an
important mission 10 japan, where he i,
10 give i~rG!:uction in tho science and
practice OF Forestry rs known in the bc~t
schools m Europe, aud 80 direct to O Ger
tain extent the forest policy ~ the c1a-
pire. DR.. Heinrich Mayr Is \ forest Off
COR of the Bayatian government and Ice
turcr on 6ylviculture in tho University OF
Munich. Two years ago he crossed the
United States through tic Lake region
and the northwest ~ Oregon, and now
no proposes 70 study the southern forests,
going through the Allegheny region and
crossing Trxa9 to California. This liz iii
preparation for n rorort 10 his govern
memt Oh American ~forcsta. From San
francisco he will vail 20 japan. where lie
will be professor c: Eylvjculture and
forest botany il the U:ivcrsity Of Toxic,
besides taking charge OF the actual forest
work Of the empire during an extended
leave OF absence from his pcs: IN Bavaria.
In reply to some inquiries BY a reporter
DR.. Mayr sail that although there was
abundant t;inbcr iu'Japau and IL wonder
ful richness iii arIorcs2rMt species when
compared with tic sylvia or Europe, still
serious !nrolCs had been male upon the
forest wealth OF the empire. During the
civil way many forests owned by Tie
dhim;0s were destroyed, and tho govern
mcnt intended To restore them. besides
This many CT the mountain slopes, al
though thickly wooded, were clothed
with species not esteemed valuable.
There arc vast stretches of bccchMoodS.
tho trees being apparently identical
botHE;cal!y with the European beech, al
thouch the wood is lighter in color.
Beech is considered a u.eful wood in
Europe, but there arc iaany better kinds
In japan, end The government proposes
to substitute u Of these for tho III
fcrior species.
Notable among Tie valuablo timber
trees Is the cryp;oiaesia, n confer, 6peci-
raei!s Of which axe not rare in the orna-
L0sutal plantations Of this country. A
few Of them are growing in the Rambis
OF Central Park. This tree is closely
allied to the American 8~cquoias, the rcd
wood and the liS trees. When a traveller
fresh from the SicrraY first secs q fores,
OF ~cryp;omcsia no viii have no other
though; than that ihvy are identical with
the American trees. They have, too, nil
the gool qualities OF ACKNOWLEDGE,
straight grained, easily worked, durable.
Besides these n species of plancra, some
OF the oaks and perhaps some other dc
%ciineu3 trees will Ike used TO s%upplant the
beech. 1t will be a delicate undertaking
to mako such n sweeping transformation
In the forest growth over largo aTcas
without causing violent disturbance in
ILL., Nt
justing themselves into balance during
centuries. But the japanese government
appreciates this and is preparing for the
work most thoroughly and cautiously.
When asked il Japan had vet suffered
any o! those physical disasters which
have followed the decreasing OF high.
hodS i'll oshor countries. Dr.. Mayr said:
'Ca. ySa. Pals preparation FOX q tia
O~r supply h CnlJ one realen for ths
present interest in forestry in japan.
The growth Of railroads opening up new
markets FOR forest products and means of
transporting them is an Immediate occa-
sion for this sharp looking after their
resources by a long sighted business PEG
rlc. Ent the cOuntIy !. already suffer
ing from torrents where the wood has
been stripped from the high Slopes. The
calamity is not SO serious As it is in other
parts Of the world, in southeastern
France, for instance, whore millions lit
orally arc expended every year in an 81
most hopeless Struggle with devastating
Goods.
"8ut what has happened and Is plainly
threatened has decided tho g~ovcrrmuu;
10 take prompt action and recover the
bare heights. Near Kiota, FOR example,
within lcrs Than iitty years the forest has
boon cleared from II portion Of the high
mountnin0 about the city and the result
Is too evident. Tie river flowing down
from this dcforcSted slope, and crossing a
Iaain say fifteen miles to the sea, soon
began to roll down moro looscncd stones
and gravel and earth after the rainy sea
son had swollen it. AS the river bed
was lifted by this deposit, tho people. 10
restrain it from overlooking the plains on
citscr side, began to build up barriers on
its banks. Ih"n ns more 80" rs were
fCliCd the torrent hCCnmo r.r.a gUiicn
and yiolont, owing 10 dccrca,cl oh5;ruc-
ton. The waterway was gradually flied
in with ~wash,ngs from tho mountain,
compelling another and another embank-
mcnt on either side a. tho bottom was
raised, until now tho stream runs
between artificial banks on the top Of 4
long. straight c~auscyyay fifty feet high"
New York Tribune.